Belt join apparatus for tire building drums

ABSTRACT

A belt join method, which is used in forming pneumatic radial tires, for joining belt components one upon the other and an apparatus therefor, in which the belt components are centered in such a manner that the center axes thereof are substantially coincident or vertically aligned with one another, by passing through a plurality of longitudinally aligned belt adjusting rollers which are urged by means of a spring.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 839,625, filed Mar. 14,1986 which was abandoned upon the filing hereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a belt join method and anapparatus therefor, and in particular to a method and an apparatustherefor, which are adapted to be used in forming pneumatic radialtires, for joining the belt components one upon the other so that thecenter axes thereof are substantially coincident or vertically alignedwith one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a belt join method for tire building drums, comprising thesteps of conveying a first belt component in a predetermined directionand a second belt component in the direction at a predetermined anglewith respect to the first belt component; centering the first and secondbelt components so that center axes of the first and second beltcomponents are vertically aligned with each other; and pressing andjoining one upon the other the first and second belt components whichare centered.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention,there is provided a belt join apparatus for tire building drumscomprising a first belt conveyor assembly for conveying a first beltcomponent; a second belt conveyor assembly for conveying a second beltcomponent, the second belt conveyor assembly being arranged at apredetermined angle with respect to the first belt conveyor assembly;centering means comprising an upper centering assembly arranged abovethe second belt conveyor assembly for centering the second beltcomponent, a lower centering assembly arranged below the first beltconveyor assembly for centering the first belt component, an upper driveassembly for driving the upper centering assembly, and a lower driveassembly for driving the lower centering assembly; and press means forpressing and joining one upon the other the first and second beltcomponents centered by the first and second centering assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawbacks of a prior art belt feed method and an apparatus thereforfor feeding belt components to a tire building drum and the features andadvantages of a belt join method and an apparatus therefor according tothe present invention will be more clearly understood from aconsideration of the following detailed description in conjunction withthe annexed drawings in which like reference numerals designatecorresponding or similar members and structures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a belt join apparatus, constructedin accordance with the present invention, for joining the beltcomponents one upon the other so that the center axes thereof aresubstantially coincident or vertically aligned with one another, inwhich a belt join method according to the present invention is carriedout;

FIG. 2 is a part-plan view of the belt join apparatus shown in FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is a side view, generally schematic in form, showing supplyrollers for supplying belt components and a tire building drum, on whichthe belt components are applied to form a belt, which are employed inthe prior art belt feed method and the prior art apparatus therefor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the annexed drawings, there is shown a priorart belt feed method for feeding belt components to the tire buildingdrum of a tire building machine and a prior art apparatus therefor. InFIG. 3, reference numeral 50 designates a representative conventionalbelt feed machine which consists of a belt unwinding apparatus 51 forunwinding belt components indicated at B_(o) and a belt feed apparatus53 for feeding the belt components B_(o) unwound from the belt unwindingapparatus 51 to a tire building drum 52, which is arranged so that thelongitudinal center axis or axial direction thereof is substantiallyperpendicular to the feed direction in which the belt components B_(o)are transferred. The belt components B_(o) fed from the belt feedapparatus 53 is directed through a suitable guide assembly 54 to thetire building drum 52. In forming a belt to be used in pneumatic radialtires for buses and trucks, four belt components (which are designatedby a second belt component B₂, a first belt component B₁, a fourth beltcomponent B₄ and a third belt component B₃, respectively, in the orderviewed from the radially outside of the belt) are normally employed.These belt components B₂, B₁, B₄ and B₃ are each composed of a pluralityof rubberized steel cords which are spaced apart in substantiallyparallel relation to one another. In pneumatic radial tires for busesand trucks, the steel cords of the outer first belt component B₁ oflarge width extend leftwardly and upwardly at a large angle with respectto the axial direction of the tire building drum 52, and the steel cordsof the second belt component B₂ of small width similarly extendleftwardly and upwardly at a large angle substantially equal to thelarge angle of the first belt component B₁. Also, the steel cords of theinner third belt component B₃ extend rightwardly and upwardly at a smallangle with respect to the axial direction of the tire building drum 52,while the steel cords of the inner fourth belt component B₄ extendrightwardly and upwardly at a large angle.

The first, second, third and fourth belt components B₁, B₂, B₃ and B₄are unwound from first, second, third and fourth supply rollers 55, 56,57 and 58, respectively, and are transferred through the guide assembly54 to the tire building drum 52. Thereafter, the third, fourth, firstand second belt components B₃, B₄, B₁ and B₂ are respectively applied inthis order on the tire building drum 52 and are respectively cut topredetermined lengths by a suitable heated cutter. These application andcut operations are thus repeated four times corresponding to the numberof the belt components.

Such a conventional belt feed method has however the drawback that therepetitive application and cut operations causes the operator's fatigueand variation in quality of the finished belts. Further, by reason thatthe belt components are respectively applied and respectively cut, theperiod of the application of the belt components on the tire buildingdrum is considerably increased, so that the rate of operation of thetire building drum and the efficiency of the application areconsiderably decreased. Furthermore, the variation in quality of thefinished belt results in deterioration in the quality of the finishedbelt.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide in the belt feed machine as hereinbefore described an improvedbelt join method and an apparatus therefor wherein the period of theapplication of the belt components on the tire building drum areconsiderably shortened, the rate of operation of the tire building drumand the efficiency of the application are considerably improved, and thevariation in quality of the finished belts are reduced, therebyenhancing the quality of the finished belt. The object of the presentinvention is achieved by centering the belt components one upon theother so that the center axes thereof are substantially coincident orvertically aligned with one another.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings show a belt join apparatus according tothe present invention for joining belt components one upon the other sothat the respective center axes thereof are substantially coincident orvertically aligned with one another, in which a belt join methodaccording to the present invention is carried out.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the belt join apparatus, constructed inaccordance with the present invention, is generally designated byreference numeral 1. The belt join apparatus 1 is mounted on the priorart belt feed apparatus 53 of the belt feed machine 50, for example, onthe place indicated at A in FIG. 3. The belt join apparatus 1 comprisesa first belt conveyor assembly indicated at 2 for conveying a first beltcomponent B₁ and a second belt conveyor assembly indicated at 3 forconveying a second belt component B₂. The first and second beltcomponents B₁ and B₂ are substantially similar in direction and angle ofthe cords. The second belt conveyor assembly 3 is arranged at apredetermined angle indicated at θ with respect to the first beltconveyor assembly 2 and has at its front end portion a belt joining end3a for joining the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂ at ajunction indicated at C on the first belt conveyor assembly 2. The firstand second belt conveyor assemblies 2 and 3 are similarly constructedand each have a plurality of spaced guide rollers 6 each extending inthe direction substantially perpendicular to a feed direction, indicatedby arrow D, in which the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂ aretransferred toward the tire building drum of a tire building machine(not shown). The guide rollers 6 are each rotatably supported atopposite ends thereof by spaced side frames 5 and 5 which extend in thefeed direction of the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂.Pressing means such as a press roller, indicated at 7, extending in thedirection substantially perpendicular to the feed direction is rotatablysupported by the front end portions of the side frames 5 and 5 to pressand join together the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂ whichare passed through the junction C and are vertically aligned with eachother in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Centering means designated generally by reference numeral 10 comprisesan upper centering assembly 11 arranged above the second belt conveyorassembly 3 for centering the second belt component B₂, a lower centeringassembly 11' arranged below the first belt conveyor assembly 2 forcentering the first belt component B₁, an upper drive assembly 20 fordriving the upper centering assembly 11, and a lower drive assembly 20'for driving the lower centering assembly 11'. The upper and lowercentering assemblies 11 and 11' are substantially similar inconstruction and operation and therefore the parts of the lowercentering assembly 11' are designated by prime "'" for avoiding thedescription therefor. Only different parts of the lower centeringassembly 11' will be described.

The centering means 10 will be hereinafter described in detail.

The upper centering assembly 11 comprises a pair of transverse frames 15and 15 which are spaced apart a predetermined distance in the feeddirection of the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂ and whichare connected at opposite ends thereof to the side frames 5 and 5.Likewise, a pair of spaced transverse frames 15' and 15' are provided inthe lower centering assembly 11'. A pair of spaced guide bars 16 and 16extending in the directions substantially perpendicular to the feeddirection are connected to the spaced side frames 5 and 5, respectively.Likewise, a pair of spaced guide bars 16' and 16' are provided in thelower centering assembly 11'. A pair of belt adjusting members or plates17 and 17 extending in the feed direction of the first and second beltcomponents B₁ and B₂ are slidably mounted through brackets on the guidebars 16 and 16, respectively, so as to be movable on and along the guidebars 16 and 16. Similarly, in the lower centering assembly 11' areprovided a pair of belt adjusting plates 17' and 17' movable on andalong the guide bars 16' and 16'. One of the belt adjusting plates 17and 17 has rotatably supported thereon a first series of belt adjustingrollers 18a through a plurality of shafts 19a, respectively, to adjustand center the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂. The firstseries of belt adjusting rollers 18a is arranged in a row in the feeddirection of the first and second belt component B₁ and B₂ and projectsfrom the lower surface of the one of the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17toward the first and second belt component B₁ and B₂. Likewise, a secondseries of belt adjusting rollers 18b projects from the lower surface ofthe other of the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17 toward the first andsecond belt component B₁ and B₂ and is supported for rotation by aplurality of shafts 19b (not shown), respectively, which in turn aresupported by the other of the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17 and whichare arranged in a row in the feed direction of the first and second beltcomponent B₁ and B₂. First and second series of belt adjusting rollers18a' and 18b' supported rotatably by the shafts 19a' and 19b' are alsoprovided in the lower centering assembly 11'. The belt adjusting rollers18a of the upper centering assembly 11 and belt adjusting rollers 18a'of the lower centering assembly 11' are varied in length so that theyare not contacted with each other in the vicinity of the junction C. Theother side belt adjusting rollers 18b and l8b' are also varied in lengthnot so as to contact each other. The belt adjusting plates 17 and 17,17' and 17' are concurrently driven to move toward and away from eachother on and along the guide bars 16 and 16 in the directionsubstantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the belt componentsby means of the upper and lower drive assembly 20 and 20', respectively,in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The above described drive assemblies 20 and 20', belt adjusting rollers18a 18b and 18a' and 18b', belt adjusting plates 17 and 17', guide bars16 and 16', and side frames 15 and 15' constitute the upper and lowercentering assemblies 11 and 11', respectively, of the centering means10.

The upper and lower drive assemblies 20 and 20' will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

The upper drive assembly 20 mounted on the upper belt conveyor assembly11 comprises a guide shaft 23 which is secured at its opposite ends tothe laterally intermediate portions of the transverse frames 15 and 15and which extends substantially in the feed direction of the first andsecond belt components B₁ and B₂ between the transverse frames 15a and15a', a longitudinally elongated first link member 24 slidably mountedon the guide shaft 23. Thus, the elongated first link member 24 ismovable on and along the guide shaft 23 in the feed direction of thefirst and second belt components B₁ and B₂. The guide shaft 23 alsoextends parallel with the belt adjusting rollers 18a and 18b supportedin a row along the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17. More particularly,the longitudinally elongated guide shaft 23 is situated midway betweenthe longitudinally aligned belt adjusting rollers 18a and the other sidebelt adjusting rollers 18b. The upper drive assembly 20 furthercomprises a pair of second link members 25 and 25 which are pivotablyconnected at one ends thereof to the rear end portion of the first linkmember 24 and at the other ends thereof to the rear end portions of thebelt adjusting plates 17 and 17, a pair of third link members 26 and 26which are pivotably connected at one ends thereof to the front endportion of the first link member 24 and at the other ends thereof to thefront end portions of the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17, and a screwrod 27 which is connected at its one end to one of the belt adjustingplates 17 and 17 through a spring 28 secured as shown in FIG. 2 and atthe other end thereof in threaded relation to one of the side frame 5.Thus, the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17 are driven to concurrentlymove toward and away from each other on and along the guide bars 16 and16 in the directions substantially perpendicular to the feed directionof the first and second belt components B₁ and B₂, through the first,second and third link members 24, 25 and 26 by the revolution of thescrew rod 27. In a similar way, the lower drive assembly 20' mounted onthe lower belt conveyor assembly 11' comprises, a shaft 23', a firstlink member 24', a pair of second link members 25' and 25', a pair ofthird link member 26' and 26', and a screw rod 27'.

The operation of the belt join apparatus constructed in accordance withthe present invention will be hereinafter described in detail.

The belt components vary in width with the constructions and sizes oftires. Thus, the upper and lower centering assemblies 11 and 11' of thebelt join apparatus 1 according to the present invention are adjusted inaccordance with the widths of the second and first belt components B₂and B₁, respectively.

One of the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17 of the upper centeringassembly 11 is driven to move away from or toward the longitudinallyelongated guide shaft 23 along the laterally elongated guide bars 16 and16 by the revolution of the screw rod 27. As a consequence, the otherbelt adjusting plate 17 is driven at the same time to move away from ortoward the guide shaft 23 along the guide bars 16 and 16 by the linkmechanism consisting of the first, second and third link members 24, 25and 26. As a result of lateral movements of the belt adjusting plates 17and 17, the belt adjusting rollers 18a and 18b respectively alignedalong the opposite belt adjusting plates 17 and 17 are spaced apart apredetermined width which corresponds to the width of the second beltcomponent B₂ and the center axis of which is substantially coincident orvertically aligned with the center axis of the guide shaft 23.Similarly, the belt adjusting plates 17' and 17' of the lower centeringassembly 11' are driven by the revolution of the screw rod 27' so thatthe belt adjusting rollers 18a' and 18b' are spaced apart apredetermined width which corresponds to the width of the first beltcomponent B₁ and the center axis of which is substantially coincident orvertically aligned with the center axis of the guide shaft 23. In thisway, a pair of the upper and lower centering assemblies 11 and 11' areadjusted so that they have the same center axis and respectivepredetermined widths corresponding to the widths of the first and secondbelt components B₁ and B₂.

In joining the belt components one upon the other, the first and secondbelt components B₁ and B₂, the cords of which are substantially equal incord direction and cord angle in relation to one another, are firstunwound from the first and second supply rollers 55 and 56 as shown inFIG. 3, respectively. The unwound first and second belt components B₁and B₂ are transferred to the belt join apparatus according to thepresent invention. Then, the first belt component B₁ is conveyed on thefirst belt conveyor assembly 2 toward the tire building drum, and thesecond belt component B₂ is conveyed on the second belt conveyorassembly 3 toward the tire building drum. Thereafter, the side portionsof the second belt components B₂ are held against the belt adjustingrollers 18a and 18b supported on the belt adjusting plates 17 and 17,respectively, of the upper centering assembly 11 of the centering means10. The side portions of the first belt component B₁ are also heldagainst the belt adjusting rollers 18a' and 18b' supported on the beltadjusting plates 17' and 17', respectively, of the lower centeringassembly 11' of the centering means 10. For this reason, while passingthrough the belt adjusting rollers 18a and 18b of the upper centeringassembly 11, the second belt component B₂ is centered by the contractionforce of the spring 28 exerted upon the belt adjusting rollers 18a and18b so that the center axis of the second belt component B₂ isvertically aligned with the center axis of the guide shaft 23. In asimilar way, while passing through the belt adjusting rollers 18a' and18b' of the lower centering assembly 11', the first belt component B₁ iscentered by the contraction force of the spring 28' exerted upon thebelt adjusting rollers 18a' and 18b' so that the center axis of thefirst belt component B₁ is vertically aligned with the center axis ofthe guide shaft 23' At the junction C, the second and first beltcomponents B₂ and B₁ are overlapped with each other, and are then formedinto a join belt indicated at B after being pressed and joined togetherby the press roller 7.

This join belt B is passed through the guide assembly 54 as shown inFIG. 3 and is applied, with the other belt components B₃ and B₄, on thetire building drum 52. In this instance, the belt component B₃ is firstapplied on the tire building drum 52 and is then cut to a predeterminedlength by the operator with the heated cutter. Thereafter, the beltcomponent B₄ is similarly applied on the belt component B₃ previouslyapplied on the tire building drum 52. The join belt B composed of thebelt components B₂ and B₁ is then applied on the belt components B₄ andB₃ applied on the tire building drum 52 and is readily cut in the corddirection with the heated cutter and is finally formed into a finishedbelt (not shown) of four plies, the center axes of which are verticallyaligned with one another. Accordingly, since the first belt componentsB₁ and B₂ are applied at the same time and are cut at the same time, theperiod of the application of the belt components on the tire buildingdrum is considerably shortened, so that the rate of operation of thetire building drum and the efficiency of the application areconsiderably improved. In addition, since center axes of the beltcomponents of the finished belt are vertically aligned with one another,the variation in quality of the finished belt is reduced, therebyenhancing the quality of the finished belt.

From the foregoing, it will been seen that, in accordance with thepresent invention, there is provided an improved belt feed method and anapparatus therefor wherein the period of the application of the beltcomponents on the tire building drum are considerably shortened, therate of operation of the tire building drum and the efficiency of theapplication are considerably improved, and the variation in quality ofthe finished belts are reduced, thereby enhancing the quality of thefinished belt.

While a certain representative embodiment and details have been shownfor the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it will beapparent to those skilled in this art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A belt join apparatus for tire building drumscomprising:a first belt conveyor assembly for conveying a first beltcomponent having a plurality of steel cords; a second belt conveyorassembly for conveying a second belt component having a plurality ofsteel cords, the second belt conveyor assembly being arranged at apredetermined angle with respect to said first belt conveyor assembly,the first and second belt components being conveyed so that the steelcords of said first and second belt components become substantiallyequal in cord direction and cord angle in relation to one another;centering means comprising an upper centering assembly arranged abovesaid second belt conveyor assembly for centering said second beltcomponent, a lower centering assembly arranged below said first beltconveyor assembly for centering said first belt component, an upperdrive assembly for driving said upper centering assembly, and a lowerdrive assembly for driving said lower centering assembly; press meansfor pressing and joining one upon the other of said first and secondbelt components with said steel cords of said first and second beltcomponents disposed in the same cord direction and same cord angle andwith said first and second belt components centered by said upper andlower centering assemblies; feeding means for feeding the joined beltcomponents, wherein the steel cords of said first and second beltcomponents are equal in cord direction and cord angle in relation to oneanother, as a unit to a tire building drum; and cutting means forcutting the joined first and second belt components whereby the joinedbelt components can be applied simultaneously in one step to a tirebuilding drum and then cut simultaneously to a predetermined lengthalong the same cord directions of said first and second belt components.2. A belt join apparatus for tire building drums comprising:a first beltconveyor assembly for conveying a first belt component having aplurality of cords; a second belt conveyor assembly for conveying asecond belt component having a plurality of cords, the second beltconveyor assembly being arranged at a predetermined angle with respectto said first belt conveyor assembly, the cords of said first and secondbelt components being substantially equal in cord direction and cordangle in relation to one another; centering means comprising an uppercentering assembly arranged above said second belt conveyor assembly forcentering said second belt component, a lower centering assemblyarranged below said first belt conveyor assembly for centering saidfirst belt component, an upper drive assembly for driving said uppercentering assembly, and a lower drive assembly for driving said lowercentering assembly; each of said upper and lower centering assembliescomprising a pair of spaced guide bars extending in directionssubstantially perpendicular to a feed direction of said first and secondbelt components, a pair of belt adjusting members slidably mounted onsaid guide bars, respectively, and a plurality of guide rollersrotatably supported by said respective belt adjusting members, the guiderollers being arranged in a row on said respective belt adjustingmembers in said feed direction of said first and second belt componentsand projecting from said respective belt adjusting members toward saidfirst and second belt components; press means for pressing and joiningone upon the other of said first and second belt components centered bysaid upper and lower centering assemblies; and cutting means for cuttingthe joined first and second belt components whereby the joined beltcomponents can be applied simultaneously in one step to a tire buildingdrum and then cut simultaneously to a predetermined length.
 3. A beltjoin apparatus for tire building drums comprising:a first belt conveyorassembly for conveying a first belt component having a plurality ofcords; a second belt conveyor assembly for conveying a second beltcomponent having a plurality of cords, the second belt conveyor assemblybeing arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to said first beltconveyor assembly, the cords of said first and second belt componentsbecome substantially equal in cord direction and cord angle in relationto one another; centering means comprising an upper centering assemblyarranged above said second belt conveyor assembly for centering saidsecond belt component, a lower centering assembly arranged below saidfirst belt conveyor assembly for centering said first belt component, anupper drive assembly for driving said upper centering assembly, and alower drive assembly for driving said lower centering assembly; each ofsaid upper and lower drive assemblies comprising a pair of framesextending in directions substantially perpendicular to a feed directionof said first and second belt components, a guide shaft mounted on saidframes and extending substantially in said feed direction, a first linkmember slidably mounted on said guide shaft, a pair of second linkmembers which are pivotably connected at one ends thereof to said firstlink member and at the other ends thereof to said belt adjustingmembers, a pair of third link members which are pivotally connected atone ends thereof to said first link member and at the other ends thereofto said belt adjusting members, and a screw rod which is connected atone end thereof to one of said belt adjusting members through a springand at the other end thereof in threaded relation to one of said frames;press means for pressing and joining one upon the other of said firstand second belt components centered by said upper and lower centeringassemblies; and cutting means for cutting the joined first and secondbelt components whereby the joined belt components can be appliedsimultaneously in one step to a tire building drum and then cutsimultaneously to a predetermined length.